CEDAR HILL – McEwen entered Friday’s District 9-A championship game with a plan to stop Jo Byrns leading scorer Brooke Dowlen, the unanimous District Player of the Year.
“(McEwen) was going to focus on Brooke,” Jo Byrns coach Jessica Holt said. “As a coach, I would do the same. Someone else had to step up.”
While that strategy yielded some success – Dowlen was limited to 13 points – Grayson Bryant and Evy Helm combined to score 46 to propel the Jo Byrns girls to a 68-39 victory and their second straight District 9-A tournament title.
“It’s the greatest thing for the program,” Holt said. “These athletes work so hard. Sometimes when I go back and watch film and see their determination, it makes my heart happy. I’m proud of them for how they are representing their school.”
However, the night did not start well for Jo Byrns as Holt was issued a technical foul before tipoff. After McEwen took the court for warmups, the Jo Byrns players left their locker room in two groups – one went to the right and the other to the left. Walking around an opposing team in that manner is unsportsmanlike per TSSAA rules.
Holt was forced to remain on the bench for the entirety of the contest, making play-calling and instruction-shouting more difficult. The Lady Red Devils struggled offensively and led just 26-22 at halftime.
“I was worried about how it was going to affect them,” Holt said. “They are all about routine. I think it messed them up there for a little bit. We had a rough first half, our shots weren’t falling. But we had enough to stay in the ballgame.”
After Holt “called out” the team during the break, the Lady Red Devils responded. Jo Byrns went on an 18-5 run to blow the game open. Bryant led the way with 12 points in the third and finished with 24 total, while Helm fought through an illness to score 22.
“We worked together and kept going,” Helm said. “We kept telling each other that we needed to keep pushing. Our teamwork was (key).”
McEwen (12-13) only managed 17 points in the second half. Dakota Hankins (13) and Madison Hankins (10) both finished in double figures.
Houston County beat East Robertson 65-39 in the District 9-A consolation game. Autumn Eleazer scored 17 points in the first quarter to help her team get out to a 25-4 lead. She finished with 26 to lead all scorers in the rout. Adrean Cole and Savannah Hinkle each scored 11 for East Robertson (2-25).
The Lady Indians travel to Richland (17-11) for the first round of the Region 5-A tournament on Friday, Feb. 28. Jo Byrns (18-5) hosts Santa Fe (6-18) at 7 p.m. the same night.
CONSOLATION
East Robertson (39): Adrean Cole 11, Savannah Hinkle 11, Kacey Barnes 5, Libby Clark 5, Macy Phelps 3, Sabrina Abney 2, Anna Hornberger 2.
Houston County (65): Autumn Eleazer 26, Karlie Stinson 13, Tess Gillespie 9, Allie Black 7, Josey Grant 5, Mallie Mills 2, Danni Ryan 2, Maddie Ross 1.
CHAMPIONSHIP
McEwen (39): Dakota Hankins 13, Madison Hankins 10, Faith Colston 7, Brodie Smith 4, Kellie Jo Hankins 3, Jorja Stiltner 2.
Jo Byrns (68): Grayson Bryant 24, Evy Helm 22, Brooke Dowlen 13, Ashlen Bryant 4, Reese Payne 4, Jaya Herring 1.
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